Stable quasi-solid-state dye-sensitized solar cell using a diamide
derivative as low molecular mass organogelator
Li Tao
a
,
1
, Zhipeng Huo
a
,
**
,
1
, Songyuan Dai
a
,
b
,
*
, Jun Zhu
a
, Changneng Zhang
a
,
Yang Huang
a
, Bing Zhang
b
, Jianxi Yao
b
a
Key Laboratory of Novel Thin-Film Solar Cells, Division of Solar Energy Materials and Engineering, Institute of Plasma Physics,
Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei, Anhui 230031, PR China
b
State Key Laboratory of Alternate Electrical Power System with Renewable Energy Sources, North China Electric Power University, Beijing 102206, PR China
highlights graphical abstract
A diamide derivative is used as LMOG
to gelate liquid electrolyte.
A novel and intrinsic stable gel elec-
trolyte with high T
gel
is prepared.
The kinetic processes of electron
transport and recombination are
investigated.
The QS-DSSC exhibits excellent sta-
bility during the accelerated aging
tests.
article info
Article history:
Received 27 January 2014
Received in revised form
12 March 2014
Accepted 26 March 2014
Available online 12 April 2014
Keywords:
Dye-sensitized solar cell
Quasi-solid-state
Electrolyte
Low molecular mass organogelator
Electron transport and recombination
Stability
abstract
High stability is a significant target for practical applications of dye-sensitized solar cells. 2-(1-
oxododecyl)hydrazide, a diamide derivative, is synthesized and applied in quasi-solid-state dye-sensi-
tized solar cells (QS-DSSCs) as a low molecular mass organogelator (LMOG). It is noteworthy that the
transition temperature from gel state to liquid state (T
gel
) of this gel electrolyte is 125.2
C, which ensures
the gel state of the electrolyte at the DSSC operating temperature. The influences of the gel electrolyte on
the kinetic processes of electron transport and recombination are investigated. The diffusion of redox
species in the gel electrolyte is hindered by the crosslinked network, and the decreased electron
recombination lifetime indicates an increased electron recombination in QS-DSSC. Significantly, the QS-
DSSC exhibits excellent thermal and light-soaking stabilities during accelerated aging tests for 1000 h.
Especially, there is almost no change in the short-circuit current density (J
sc
) in the QS-DSSC, while the J
sc
of the liquid electrolyte based DSSC decreases to 79e90% of their initial values. These results are very
important for the application and commercialization of DSSCs.
Ó 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
1. Introduction
Since the original development of sensitized nanocrystalline
solar cells (DSSCs) by Michael Grätzel and his coworkers [1], DSSCs
are considered to be one of the emerging solar technologies that
offers the potential to reduce the cost of photovoltaic electricity
generation. It is clear that stability is a prerequisite for application
of any photovoltaic technology and the extent of application is
limited by the level of stability that can ultimately be achieved. The
*
Corresponding author. Key Laboratory of Novel Thin-Film Solar Cells, Division of
Solar Energy Materials and Engineering, Institute of Plasma Physics, Chinese
Academy of Sciences, Hefei, Anhui 230031, PR China. Tel.: þ86 10 61772268.
**
Corresponding author. Tel.: þ86 551 65592190.
E-mail addresses: zhipenghuo@163.com (Z. Huo), sydai@ipp.ac.cn, solar@ipp.ac.
cn (S. Dai).
1
Li Tao and Zhipeng Huo contributed equally to this work.
Contents lists available at ScienceDirect
Journal of Power Sources
journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/jpowsour
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jpowsour.2014.03.128
0378-7753/Ó 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Journal of Power Sources 262 (2014) 444e 450